Your Joy Teachers 2nd – 4th October 2026

Mercedes Nieto is an internationally acclaimed Middle-Eastern dance artist from a Hungarian-Spanish family, based in Budapest. World famous of her delicate, elegant, yet passionate dance style, which is innovative and unique.

She has spent a decade touring around the World: since 2009 she had been teaching and performing in more than 50 countries worldwide.

While traveling and sharing her knowledge, passion and unique vision for belly dancing around the globe, she kept organizing the internationally highly acclaimed CAIRO! Fest Budapest. The festival attracts hundreds of dedicated dancers to Hungary every spring since 2007.

Mercedes is producing Middle-Eastern music especially for oriental dancers since 2012: creating music in Cairo, Egypt, in collaboration with some of the best musicians and composers the scene has to offer. She has released five albums that gained wide international success among dancers. The fifth one “El Hawa” has just been released.

Meanwhile currently focusing on her international career, festival and music productions, Mercedes is still teaching regular classes in Budapest in her dance studio called the “Nimfeum”, whenever she’s in town - creating annual shows with her students, organizing charity galas as well as managing her professional oriental dance group “The Nymph Oriental Dance Company”.

During the pandemic times she has started the RAQSoul project: a series of online workshops and weekly classes for dedicated dancers to stay connected and inspired - this has now transformed into an online membership platform for dedicated dance artists.

Sonya of Cairo is a professional dancer and choreographer. Sonya has been immersed in oriental dance since early childhood. Her mother, Marianne DS, founded L'ADS in Paris 17 years ago; it was the largest dance association! Sonya began her training with Marianne DS and continues her studies with the renowned Egyptian professional, Randa Kamel! Sonya is distinguished by her purely Egyptian style! Sonya of Cairo is now based in Cairo and travels the world for festivals: China, Brazil, Europe, USA, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, South Korea, Argentina, Malaysia, and Thailand. She performs nightly in Cairo's finest hotels! Sonya of Cairo is also a teacher at the largest festival in Cairo, "Raks of Course."

Abeer Will is an Egyptian woman passionate about bellydance, its origins and the bellydance community. Born in Alexandria, she is now based in Germany. She teaches at European festivals and judges many competitions. Abeer specialises in Egyptian folklore. Abeer teaches a 4 day intensive every year at the International Bellydance Summer School near Reading. This is highly popular. Abeer is delighted to be sharing her knowledge at Dance Joy.

Fascinated by the arts from an early age, Nivetha began her journey in Belly dance 13 years ago. Through her training in Belly dance and Yoga, she discovered a deep connection with Tribal Fusion Belly dance, which continues to shape her artistic voice.

She holds certifications in Dancecraft – Key of Diamonds and Krysalis – Invocation, and is a Level 2 Yoga practitioner certified by the Yoga Certification Board, Government of India. Mindfully blending nuances from the various dance forms she is trained in, Nivetha continues to evolve her style with Belly dance as its foundation.
A certified FCBD® Teacher, she is proud to be the first officially recognised FCBD® Sister Studio in India. As a solo artist and the director of Saara – The Tribe, she has presented her work on prominent dance platforms.

Based in Bangalore, Nivetha conducts regular certified classes and has taught workshops and performed at numerous belly dance festivals across India. In recent years, she has expanded her reach internationally, bringing her dance programs to Europe, the UK, and Australia, and sharing her artistry with the global Belly dance community.

Amanda Rose is an internationally acclaimed instructor and performer based in Barcelona, Spain with a passion for helping students feel connected to their bodies, and explore Middle Eastern dance styles. While she holds regular classes in Barcelona, she also travels internationally, inspiring dancers worldwide with her dynamic teaching style and captivating performances. Known for her technical precision, emotionally captivating performances, and insightful instruction, Amanda Rose’s approach to dance, art and pedagogy is greatly shaped by a background in sociology, 2 decades of experience with Middle Eastern dance, and a master’s degree in Dance Movement Therapy. She has received wide recognition for her online platform Amanda Rose Online, where she has been offering high-quality online instruction for over 10 years. Instruction includes online pre-recorded and live classes, coaching for competitions, and creative and artistic development, intensive long-distance training projects, personalized feedback, and exploratory movement. Amanda Rose also works as a Dance Movement Therapist, facilitating groups and individual sessions online and in-person.

Alexis Southall is an internationally acclaimed fusion bellydance performer, choreographer, and educator. Known for her musicality, precision, and innovative artistry, she has taught and performed in 23 countries. As the founder of the Juniper Project and producer of Infusion Emporium, Alexis continues to inspire dancers worldwide through her performances, mentorship, and creative work

Shona McNeil ( formerly Hagan) is an Egyptian style Bellydancer and experienced teacher from Scotland. She is renowned for her strong technique and dancing in an authentic Egyptian style but with a strong personal flair.

She spent the first part of her career in Spain where she taught regular classes and workshops and performed at many events, parties and weddings. She was also resident dancer in a beautiful Moroccan restaurant in old town Altea. At the restaurant Shona danced weekends and midweek for a Norwegian holiday company who especially requested Shona weekly and brought tour groups of holiday makers to watch her perform. The Norwegians used to call her The Bomb.

Shona has taught and performed throughout the Uk and in Europe. She also has and does organise many events in the UK such as Luxury Bellydance Spa, Blissful Bellydance Spa, Miss Bellydance Uk competition and Festival , Club Cairo, Raqs Masr a sellout show at the Bournemouth pavilion which starred her multi award winning dance troupe Divaz and many more events.

A recent new venture is Bonnie Bellydance a fun Scottish weekend on a Scottish loch in collaboration with Moyra Banks and Kay Taylor.
Shona is herself an international award winning dancer having come 3rd in the second Bellydance Congress competition for professional soloists which starred Fifi Abdo, Randa Kamel and Sadie Marquardht.

One of Shona’s life highlights was being invited by Dina to perform onstage with Dina’s band at the Semiramis in Cairo.

Sureya Hussein is a professional dancer, choreographer and instructor based in London, UK. Her passion for dance stems from her Turkish culture where she has trained, taught, competed and performed in a variety of styles including Turkish Oryantal, Egyptian Raqs Sharqi, Egyptian Folklore, Turkish Romany as well as Fusion.

Over the last 4 years, Sureya has won multiple awards including first place in the IDB dance championship, as well as medals in Turkiye, Spain and Ireland. She is also the first dancer born in England to win awards for both Turkish style and Egyptian Raqs Sharqi professional categories internationally, as well as Fusion.

Sureya is passionate about sharing her love of dance as well as information about Turkish and Middle Eastern culture. She is an enthusiastic teacher who is always happy to answer questions and encourage artistry to help bring out the best in her students.

Sureya regularly teaches private classes, group classes as well as workshops around the UK and holds a mixture of pedagogical, fitness and performing arts qualifications

Anne’s movement background began at the age of 4 and has followed a path of dance disciplines including tap, jazz, Body Groove, Middle Eastern and somatic dance. In the past 10 years her interest in holistic movement and wellbeing has expanded culminating in her graduating with a MA in Dance and Somatic Wellbeing in 2021. Anne is registered with the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association. She currently teaches somatic movement and wellbeing classes and Middle Eastern dance classes weekly in the North West, at dance festivals throughout the UK and on her bespoke relaxation trips to Morocco.

Anne’s classes are informative, nurturing and fun and suitable for anyone wanting to be more in touch with their bodies. Find out more about her work at www.annekingston.com, email [email protected] or phone 07843079574.

Maria D’Silva is a UK-based Egyptian dance artiste, master teacher, judge, and events organiser, widely recognised as part of the second generation who helped bring Egyptian dance to the United Kingdom and elevate its profile internationally.
She is the founder and director of the Belly Dance Mania Festival, a vibrant event in Leicester that showcases leading national and international teachers and performers.
Throughout her career, Maria has travelled extensively, representing the UK as a performer, teacher, and competition judge. In 2024, she made history as the only British/Goan female artiste specially invited to represent the UK at the prestigious Ahlan Wa Sahlan International Festival in Cairo, hosted by renowned choreographer Raqia Hassan, where she taught and performed at both the opening and closing gala shows. She has since been invited back for a third consecutive year in 2026 to teach, perform, and judge at this world-renowned festival.
Maria’s work has also been featured internationally in media. She appeared in a documentary on Al Jazeera highlighting Arabic dance and profiling her as a non-Arab artiste. Her television appearances include features on BBC, Sky, and the regional news programme Midlands Today. She has been highlighted in numerous dance publications, including North African Magazine, MADN, Mosaic, and Nada.
Her artistic passion spans a wide spectrum of Egyptian styles, including Ghawazee, Saidi, Baladi, Shaabi, Oriental, and Classical. With additional training in Latin, Modern, Ballet, and Drama, she brings a rich theatricality and technical depth to her work, often blending influences to create her signature approach to Egyptian dance and Latino fusion.

Kay has joined the Dance Joy team. She is based in the North East but originally a Yorkshire lass. Kay started her bellydance journey in Leeds and now teaches regular classes in the North East, on line classes as well as workshops around the UK and internationally. Kay is known for her inclusive yet challenging classes. Kay runs several residential courses in the UK and runs specialist bellydance trips to Cairo and around Egypt.

Eleanor has been belly dancing since the age of 10. Her belly dance career has taken her around the world. She is the director of Taste of Cairo (est by Tracey Gibbs) and shimmy school.
Eleanor teaches with the ethos that dance and movement is Healing (completing a PGcert from Derby University in the subject) and specialises in using belly dance as part of rehabilitation for people with brain injury, strokes and Parkinson’s.

Rachael is an experienced and inspiring teacher of Egyptian Dance based in Manchester and online, and she’s also a professional performer, dancing at events around Manchester and the North West.
As an instructor, she’s on a mission to make bellydance an accessible and uplifting experience for everybody. She’s committed to excellence in dance technique and artistry.
As well as teaching dance, Rachael is also a fully qualified Pilates matwork instructor. Studying Pilates has helped her to completely transform her own dance technique and body awareness, and now she’s excited to bring this knowledge into the dance community to help other dancers do the same!

Candi is a veteran of the Northern dance scene and a regular visitor to Cairo. Whenever she goes, she tries to find new experiences. Take advantage of her extensive knowledge and plan your Cairo sightseeing.........

Michelle is a drum and dance teacher with over 30 years of teaching experience. Her style is relaxed, informative, and encouraging, creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere for everyone who learns with her.

She is also known for her innovative Whirling Dervish Bazaar, filled with an eclectic collection of unique and interesting treasures.

Michelle’s love of Egyptian drumming grew naturally from her journey into Egyptian dance. Over the years she has taught at many dance festivals including Joy, Celebrating Dance, Raks Brittania, Womad, World Music Drum and Dance Camp, Fantasia, as well as numerous local workshops and dance retreats.

She is also a founder member of the Middle Eastern Music Drum and Dance Camp, together with Chas Whittaker and Maren Leug.

Michelle believes that drumming and dancing are naturally connected. Learning to drum can deepen a dancer’s understanding of Middle Eastern rhythms and music, while also being an enjoyable and rewarding experience in its own right. She encourages everyone to give it a go.

Helena is a Yorkshire based performer known for her infectious enthusiasm and irrepressible shimmies. With 2 decades of experience under her hip belt, her teaching is grounded in the culture and history of the dance, making sure students have the feel as well as the movement.